If you are looking for one of the most durable stones which is on the market, then the choice is often between sapphire and diamond. These two are half of the four ‘precious gems’ the other two are emerald and ruby.
Because of this, as well as being durable and beautiful, both of these stones are wildly popular and sought after.
This is not a recent phenomenon either, these stones have been fought over for centuries and there are plenty of famous and historical sapphires and diamonds to prove this.
Because of this, these stones are incredibly popular in jewelry, especially meaningful jewelry which is intended to be worn for long periods of time. This is why you see so many diamonds and sapphires in engagement rings, or rings of similar significance.
Because both of these gems are so popular, it can be a difficult choice to make if you are buying something as important as an engagement ring. This decision will last for a lifetime, so it is obvious that people want to think it through as much as possible.
So, because this decision bothers so many people, we have put this list together to compare sapphires and diamonds in different categories so you can use this information to discern which is the right choice for you!
So, whether you are choosing between sapphires and diamonds for you or for someone else, this list will give you all the information you need to make an informed decision!
Stone Hardness: Sapphire Or Diamond
One of the most important considerations to make when it comes to choosing a piece of jewelry which is going to be worn often is how durable it will be. While you of course want it to be beautiful, you also do not want to worry about the piece falling apart after not that long.
While there is a winner in this category, this is not something you have to worry about much with either of these gems with them both being incredibly durable.
The main scale used to measure the hardness of stones like this is the Mohs scale and this goes between 1 and 10, with 1 being the softest, and 10 being the hardest.
On this scale, diamond is often used as an example since it is at 10 and is the hardest mineral known. However, in terms of naturally occurring gemstones, sapphire is right behind diamond at a 9, so it is very unlikely that this will be getting scratched.
There are some other scales which should probably be considered like the resistance a stone has to thermal energy, or chemicals, but both of these gems do well on these scales.
It is worth noting that in spite of being harder, sapphire is actually less likely to chip than a diamond is.
Cost: Sapphire Or Diamond
The price of any gemstone will depend on 4 different factors; the color, the carat, the cut, and the clarity. These are the official characteristics which a gemstones price is based on, however, the price will also depend on the rarity of a stone, and how in demand there is.
So, you can find some gems incredibly cheap if there is not much demand for them. But this is unlikely to be the case for either sapphires or diamonds any time soon.
If you are looking for an engagement stone, then a white diamond is the most common choice for this for its meaning and how beautiful it appears.
You will not find the same quality with a white sapphire, so if choosing a white gem, then a sapphire will be less expensive, but will not have the same quality.
If you are looking for a colored gem, then again you will find sapphires a lot more popular and cheap for this since colored diamonds are incredibly rare. Colored sapphires are also one of the more attractive types of sapphires, so they are worth looking out for!
Color: Sapphire Or Diamond
You will often find diamonds being referred to as ice, and this is for a reason. Most diamonds have a crystal clear appearance, with a white sheen.
This is because they are graded on a scale between D and Z, those between D to F and colorless, and therefore the most desirable, this is what makes them more expensive.
After F and the closer you get to Z, the more color will appear, and you will get some yellow, and eventually brown tones, leading to a cheaper diamond.
Outside of this D to Z grade, you can also get some more vivid diamonds which come in different colors. You can even find diamonds which are shades of black or gray.
The more strong and vibrant the color of the diamond is, the more expensive it will be.
The most rare and expensive colors for diamonds are purple, green, red, and orange, after this blue and pink are also quite rare, and the aforementioned yellow and brown are the most common.
When it comes to sapphires, you of course know that they are well known for having a specific shade of blue, and the value of the sapphire depends on the hue of the stone, as well as its tone, and its saturation.
Therefore, the most valuable sapphires have a medium to dark vivid shade of velvet blue, with a distinct tone and high saturation.
In spite of this being the most well-known shade sapphires come in, this is not the only choice, and you can find sapphires in a wide variety of colors and shades.
The title sapphire is actually given to any stone which is in the corundum family, of any color, with the exception of red which will be titled a ruby, in spite of essentially just being a red sapphire.
Other than this, you can find sapphires in any shade including; purple, pink, yellow, green, orange, black, brown, or gray. One of the most sought after colors of sapphire is a padparadscha sapphire which is a distinct shade of pinky orange.
You can also find parti-color sapphires which have multiple colors, and even sapphires which have changing colors.
Which Is Best For You? Sapphire Or Diamond
When it comes to making the choice between a sapphire and a diamond, when it comes to their traits exclusively, it is hard to pick. This is because their durability is so similar, with diamonds only being slightly more durable.
They are also close in terms of aesthetic appeal as well. So when making a choice, the main considerations should be budget, and the taste of the person you are buying for. For example, if someone asks for a sapphire, they want a sapphire, and the same for diamonds.
You could opt to get something more personal with a colored gemstone, and in this case, sapphire would be much more affordable, and these are easier to find.
However, if you are looking for a classic look for something like an engagement ring, then white diamond is the right choice. The main thing to keep in mind is the taste of the person you are looking for, so do your research on what they love.
Hi, my name is Andrea Daehma and I have been collecting and using crystals in my everyday life for just over six years now.
I have my own collection of crystals gracing my house, several for every scenario I could think of.
Learning about crystals has truly changed my life, and I want to help others turn their life around too. Please enjoy my website and find your own small stone to begin your crystal journey with!
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